UK and France formalise three-year pact to tighten Channel border controls
London renews the Sandhurst Treaty with a conditional €766 million package aimed at reducing undocumented arrivals following a record-breaking year of crossings.
The United Kingdom and France have formalised a new three-year agreement designed to curb undocumented migrant crossings in the English Channel. Under the terms of the deal, the two nations will renew the Sandhurst Treaty, a framework previously established to manage the security of the maritime border between the two states.
As part of the accord, France is mandated to significantly expand its coastal surveillance capabilities. The French government will increase the number of officers deployed along its coastline by more than 50 per cent, reaching a total of 1,400 personnel by 2029. This expansion aims to address the persistent challenges of small boat departures from French shores that have long been a source of friction in bilateral relations.
To support these operational enhancements, the United Kingdom has committed up to €766 million in funding. However, the structure of this financial contribution introduces a new layer of accountability. Approximately 25 per cent of the total sum is conditional upon the effectiveness of the measures implemented by French authorities.
The agreement stipulates that this conditional portion will be withheld after the first year if the agreed targets are not met. This mechanism marks a shift in the dynamic of the partnership, linking UK fiscal support directly to the performance of French border control efforts rather than providing unconditional assistance.
The deal comes in the wake of a record 41,000 undocumented crossings from France to the UK in 2025, the highest figure since large-scale migration via small boats was first detected in 2018. The surge prompted criticism from London regarding the adequacy of previous preventative measures, leading to the current push for intensified enforcement.
While the British government highlights that joint operations have already halted more than 42,000 attempted crossings since July 2024, the new treaty seeks to institutionalise a more robust response. French officials note that arrivals have already fallen by half since the start of 2026 compared to the same period last year, citing the arrest of approximately 480 smugglers in 2025 as evidence of ongoing efforts.
